Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Dr. Dre, Eazy-E to be played by budding actors in N.W.A. biopic

Two relatively unknown actors have been approved to play Dr. Dre and the late Eazy-E in Universal’s N.W.A. biopic ‘Straight Outta Compton.’According to Billboard, actor Marcus Callender has been tapped to portray the legendary hip-hop producer while a budding thespian named Jason Mitchell won the role of Eazy-E after a stellar screen test.Out of the two, Callender is more experienced as an actor with bit roles in two CBS series, ‘Blue Bloods’ and ‘Elementary.’

Callender and Mitchell join previously announced cast member O’Shea Jackson Jr., who, of course, will play his dad Ice Cube in the movie.

No word yet on who will portray DJ Yella, who was also a producer and tour DJ for the group.The N.W.A. biopic is in full motion after a script overhaul and principal shooting in Los Angeles in order to qualify for California’s film tax credit.

The film, which is being directed by F. Gary Gray, will chronicle the life and music of N.W.A as Cube, Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, MC Ren and DJ Yella became the “World’s Most Dangerous Rap Group” in the late 1980s.